Rotor Cooling Passage Layout for Wound-Field Electrical Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques for cooling field windings in wound-field rotating electrical machines are ineffective in promoting heat dissipation across the entire winding, particularly at the axial end portions, leading to insufficient cooling of the middle sections.

Innovation Solution

A wound-field rotating electrical machine design incorporating a rotor core with tooth portions, non-magnetic members, and cooling medium flow passages that extend axially with inclined or stepped configurations to facilitate cooling medium distribution, ensuring effective cooling from the axial end to the middle portions of the field winding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If cooling medium flow passage is purely axial, then structure is simple, but cooling coverage is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure of cooling medium flow passageVSAvoidcooling effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling medium flow passage incorporates radial components through inclined portions while maintaining axial portions, creating a three-dimensional flow path. This dimensional enhancement improves cooling coverage and effectiveness without significantly complicating the overall structure, as the inclined portions are integrated within the existing rotor core slots.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design effectively cools the entire field winding, enhancing heat dissipation and reducing drag losses by ensuring uniform oil distribution and contact with the rotor winding.

Implementation Method 1

the cooling medium flow passage has a radially outermost radial position that is located further toward a radially outer side, at the second position than at the first position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the cooling medium flow passage has an inclined portion or a step portion between a first position in the axial direction and a second position, in the axial direction, that is closer to a center, in the axial direction, of the rotor core than the first position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4683186A1Wound-field rotating electrical machine
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 AISIN CORP
  • EP4683186A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4683186A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4683186A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is disclosed a wound-field rotating electrical machine, including: a stator; and a rotor rotatably disposed coaxially with the stator with a gap in a radial direction between the rotor and the stator. The rotor includes: a rotor core including a plurality of tooth portions provided in a circumferential direction; a field winding wound on the plurality of tooth portions; and non-magnetic members extending in an axial direction, in a plurality of slots formed between the plurality of tooth portions. Each of the non-magnetic members includes a cooling medium flow passage extending in the axial direction. The cooling medium flow passage has an inclined portion or a step portion between a first position in the axial direction and a second position, in the axial direction, that is closer to a center, in the axial direction, of the rotor core than the first position. The cooling medium flow passage has a radially outermost radial position that is located further toward a radially outer side, at the second position than at the first position, by the inclined portion or the step portion.